Cover for ironer rolls



Feb. 14, 1950 T. R. SMITH 4 COVER FOR IRONER ROLLS Filed July lO, 1947 Patented Feb. 14, 1950 COVER FOR IRONER ROLLS Thomas R. Smith, Newton, Iowa, assigner to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application July 10, 1947, Serial No. 759,965

6 Claims.

' and more particularly to a novel surface or covering for such a roll.

Ironer rolls of the rotary type are generally -provided with a pad covering the inner cylindrical member or metal roll and about this pad is wrapped one or more layers of cotton cloth exposed to the fabric or clothes to be ironed. Such wrapping of cloth is dimcult to maintain taut about the roll under operating conditions, and when applied necessitates a lap or joint which results in an uneven surface. Furthermore, when a resilient or flexible pad is utilized the cloth covering tends to develop a longitudinaltwist or wrinkle whereby the exposed surface of the roll fails to present a continuous, uninterrupted ironing surface.

Another serious objection to the use of a cotton or the like cloth covering of the type now employed on ironer rolls is that this cloth material is soon scorched or carbonized by contact with the heated shoe with which such ironers are equipped, and the resulting deterioration of or damage to the cover necessitates frequent replacement.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to eliminate the above objections by dispensing with the use of a cloth covering of the type now used and to employ a novel covering or exposed ironing surface that is not injured by the heat applied thereto by contact with the heated ironing shoe.

The invention further comprehends a novel means and manner of adhesively applying to the pad of an ironer roll an exposed ironing surface comprising a layer or covering of asbestos bers that will withstand high temperatures and pressures and which continuously presents to the fabric or clothing to be ironed a relatively smooth and uniform or uninterrupted surface.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of a novel surface covering for a resilient roller .pad in which the covering consists of asbestos bers adhesively applied to the pad in such manner asto present an ironing surface in the form of a nap.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, eiliciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination, method and manner of application of the surface covering, and while there is disclosed a preferred embodiment it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change and comprehends other features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the novel ironer roll as applied to a rotary type ironer.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the ironer roll with portions of the component -parts broken away to more clearly disclose the construction and assembly of the roll and the method and manner of applyingt thereto a covering or surface coating of asbestos bers.

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical cross-section taken on the lines 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view in vertical cross-section of the roll.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the roll under pressure when contacted by the heated ironer shoe.

Referring more particularly to the novel illustrative embodiment of the ironer roll forming the subject-matter of the present invention, Fig. l discloses such an ironer roll l0 employed on a rotary type ironer II in which the roll is adapted to be rotated through suitable power mechanism and brought into contact with an ironer shoe I2 which may be of any desired type. In the disclosed embodiment, the roll and shoe are moved relative to each other so as to accommodate therebetween fabric or clothing to be ironed.

As more particularly shown in Fig. 2, this ironer roll preferably comprehends a tubular or cylindrical member I3, preferably of metal, which acts as a base and support for the roll assembly and to which the driving or power mechanism of the ironer is connected for rotating the roll assembly. Encompassing the tubular member I3 is a sleeve or pad I 4 formed of sponge or perforated rubber or rubber-like, resilient or exible material suitable for the purpose. This resilient sleeve or pad I4 is shown as of substantial thickness so as to give the desired compressibility during the ironing operation. One such resilient sleeve which is formed of .perforated rubber or rubber-like material utilized as a roller pad is fully disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 589,773, led April 23, 1945, now Patent No. 2,487,487.

The outer periphery or circumference I5 of this resilient sleeve I4 is preferably provided with a relatively smooth surface and the present invention comprehends applying thereto an adhesive coating I6 formed of a material or substance which readily adheres to the surface of the sleeve and remains flexible or yieldable under the heat and conditions of operation. Such an adhesive will maintain its adherence and characteristics as the surface of the roll is distorted and compressed by contact of the ironer shoe.

As more clearly disclosed in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, individual asbestos fibers il are sprayed or applied onto the adhesive coating by any suitable means such as for example, by spraying the asbestos ber onto the roll through a nozzle I8 until a desired covering and nap I9 have been Obtained. Although such asbestos fibers when projected in the manner disclosed receive an electrostatic charge resulting from the friction of the fibers in their passage through a spray gun and nozzle and such charge is sufilcient to maintain the fibers elongated in their direction of movement, the nozzle l 8 and the roll may be charged by an elec tric current in the circuit 20 to provide an electrostatic field wherein the elongated asbestos fibers are caused to flow and be projected parallel to each other whereby the relatively sharp ends thereof strike the roll substantially normal to its exposed surface and the forwardly pointing sharp ends will penetrate the adhesive and be securely held in place` By this method, a nap i9 having a relatively smooth and uniform surface will be built up upon the exposed ironing surface of the roll for the full length thereof.

The exposed ironing surface so Vformed will present no laps or joints, is unaffected by the heat to which it is subjected and has excellent Wearing characteristics. As shown in Fig. 5, when the roll is contacted by or contacts against the shoe l2, the exposed outer surface follows the contour of the resilient roll and docs not develop a longitudinal twist or wrinkle as results from the use of a cloth covering of the type now employed.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

l. A roll for a rotary type ironing machine comprising a rigid tubular member, a resilient sleeve of substantial thickness encompassing the tubular member and giving it uniform compressibility throughout, and a covering for the sleeve composed of individual asbestos fibers adhesively applied to the sleeve and projecting substantially perpendicularly therefrom to provide an exposed, Scorch-proof nap,

2. In a roll for a rotary ironer, a resilient tubular member of substantial thickness and flexibility. an adhesive coating applied to the entire outer circumference of said member, and a covering for said member comprising individual asbestos bers having one end embedded and retained in the adhesive to present an exposed ironing surface having a scorch-proof nap.

3. In a roll for a rotary type ironer, a rigid tubular member, a resilient tubular pad of substantial and uniform thickness and giving the desred compressibility to the roll when operating, and a surface covering for the roll consisting of an adhesive covering the pad and asbestos fibers having an end embedded and anchored in the adhesive and the remainder projecting perpendicularly from the roll to provide an ironing surface with a Scorch-proof nap.

4. A roll for a rotary type ironer comprising a rigid tubular member, a relatively thick resilient sleeve encompassing said tubular member and secured thereto. a flexible adhesive coating completely covering the outer circumference of said resilient sleeve, and a substantially uniform asbestos coating for said sleeve consisting of a plurality of closely spaced elongated individual asbestos nbers the majority having one of their ends embedded in said adhesive and the other ends projecting substantially radially outwardly from the outer peripheral surface of said sleeve to provide an integral unlapped and substantially even ironing surface.

5. In a roll for a rotary ironer of the type including a rotary roll and a heated shoe adapted to be moved into and out of contact for ironing clothes or other materials or fabrics, a resilient pad of substantial thickness and flexibility and a covering for the pad and roll consisting of individual asbestos bers having an end of the fibers anchored onto the pad and roll whereby the fibers present a nap projecting substantially normal to the circumference of the roll.

6. In a rotary ironer roll, a tubular member formed of a resilient material providing a relatively thick and compressible pad for the roll, an adhesive coating applied to the outer circumference of the tubular member, and a covering composed of asbestos fibers embedded in the adhesive to provide a Scorch-proof nap.

THOMAS R. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the lc of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,746,136 Weaver Feb. 4, 1930 1,855,869 Pugh Apr. 26, 1932 2,125,603 Crockford Aug. 2, 1938 2,169,118 Wardell Aug. 8, 1939 2,221,338 Wintermute Nov. 12, 1940 2,358,227 Hiers Sept. 12, 1944 2,395,157 l/Vork Feb. 19, 1946 2,430,195 Strike Nov, 4, 1947 

